Sustainable Cities And Tourism: 9 European Capitals Compared / datappeal.io

What makes a city sustainable?

Environmental sustainability is the first — if not the only — thing that comes to mind when we think of a sustainable city.

Sustainability is however a much broader concept.

The definition of a sustainable city is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the UN in 2015, which now serve as a cornerstone for analysing sustainability, even within the tourism sector.

The UN’s Goal 11 is to “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.”

This means that sustainable cities should not only safeguard the environment, but also be inclusive, safe and adaptable.

Today, around 50 percent of people live in cities.

By 2030 this number will grow to 60 percent.

So ensuring that future urban scenarios are sustainable in all its facets is becoming an increasingly top priority for governments.

Although cities serve as hubs for cultural exchange and progress, they are also vulnerable to significant social, economic, and environmental disparities.

According to the UN, 828 million people live in slums.

Cities occupy only 3% of the earth’s surface, but are responsible for up to 80% of energy consumption and 75% of carbon emissions.

The UN’s goal is to significantly alter the trajectory by 2030.

But time is running short.

And not all cities have embraced the necessary mindset and resources to achieve this.

Which are the most sustainable cities?

We used our Destination Sustainability Index (DSI) to evaluate the sustainability of nine European cities—Amsterdam, Berlin, Copenhagen, Dublin, London, Madrid, Paris, Rome, and Vienna.

The Destination Sustainability Index supports destinations in measuring and benchmarking their environmental, economic, social and governance aspects.

It looks at four main pillars to calculate the sustainability of a destination: Environmental, Socio-Cultural, Overtourism, and Destination Management.

The results for these pillars, in turn, are calculated from an additional 17 specific sub-indices.

Both Data Appeal’s proprietary data and third-party data, which encompasses satellite environmental monitoring data, play a role in the calculation of the index. We rely on the European Commission’s European Tourism Indicator System (ETIS) as our benchmark; it stands as the most renowned and frequently referenced methodology for assessing tourism sustainability at the destination level.

What are the main findings of our analysis?

1 – The overall scores of all cities surveyed ranged from 65/100 to 77/100, indicating a positive performance across the board

This figure shows that the efforts made in recent years are paying off, even if there is still ample room for improvement in several aspects, especially the fight against pollution.

2 – Madrid achieved the highest overall score of 77/100

This result is mainly driven by the impressive scores obtained in the sub-indices related to destination management (91/100) and the Socio-Cultural Pillar (78/100). Madrid’s consistent performance across all pillars, along with a notable score in environmental aspects (65/100), highlights its holistic approach to sustainability.

It is no coincidence that as of 2022 Madrid has approved a plan of action to decrease the concentration of substances harmful to health and the environment in the most polluted areas. For example, 350 million euros have been invested in the total renewal of the low-emission city bus fleet.

3 – Rome is the capital city with the highest score in the Social-Cultural Pillar (79/100)

The Social-Cultural Pillar focuses on the social and cultural aspects of a destination, such as urban green spaces, cultural vibrancy, and public transportation. It’s no surprise, considering the wealth of cultural assets that benefit both residents and tourists alike.

Additionally, Rome stands out for its exceptional inclusivity within the LGBTQ+ community, as reflected in its impressive LGBTQ+ Index score of 88/100.

4 – Paris stands out as the leading destination in effectively managing tourist influx, with a score of 85/100

Paris performs exceptionally well in managing overtourism, suggesting that it has implemented more effective strategies than other destinations to prevent overcrowding that could disrupt residents’ lives.

Last year, the French government introduced a plan to regulate visitor numbers, aiming to reduce congestion during peak times in specific destinations. This plan involves setting up a national observatory for major tourist sites, evaluating local sentiment towards visitor numbers, and increasing awareness among tourists and influencers.

In terms of our index, Paris also scores lowest in the Environment category (44/100), indicating areas where environmental sustainability can be improved.

5 – Vienna achieves the highest score in Governance & Destination Management (91/100)

This high score highlights Vienna’s success in visitor satisfaction, effective management of tourism services and overall governance that supports sustainable tourism development.

It’s worth noting, however, that in this area all nine capitals show very positive performance, slightly below Vienna. In particular, Amsterdam, Berlin, Madrid, and Dublin have a score of 90/100.

6 – All cities rate poorly in terms of the environment, with scores ranging from 39 to 64 out of 100.

This suggests notable shortcomings, especially regarding air quality and the amount of green space compared to populated areas. Rome and London have the lowest scores, while Amsterdam, Dublin, Vienna, and Madrid perform better.